25/05/2026
Great advice! Just because we can handle the heat better doesn’t mean our dogs can ☀️
☀️ Heat Safety Series… Post 2 of 5
The sunshine is edging a little closer for us over here on the west coast of Ireland, which means we’re officially entering that time of year where everyone starts asking the same question… is it actually too hot to walk the dog, or am I overthinking it? Fair question. Especially when one minute it looks lovely out the window and the next you’re standing outside wondering why it feels about ten degrees warmer (or colder!) than you expected. Irish weather likes to keep us guessing.
This is where it gets a bit tricky, because the number on your phone doesn’t tell you the full story. You can look at the temperature and think, that seems grand… but that doesn’t tell you what the ground feels like, how humid it is, whether there’s any shade, or how well your own dog copes in warmer weather. Two dogs can go out in exactly the same conditions and cope completely differently. That’s why there’s never one magic number that works for every dog.
This is the bit worth thinking about before you clip the lead on and head out. If you’re already questioning whether it might be too warm, that’s usually your brain waving a little flag to stop and think for a second. Once your dog starts struggling, things can change quickly, and they’re relying on us to make that call for them. They don’t get to tell us they’re not coping until they’re already uncomfortable.
A few things you should be checking before heading out…
◼ What does the ground actually feel like?
◼ Is there enough shade on your route?
◼ Is it humid, even if the temperature looks manageable?
◼ How does your dog usually cope in warmer weather?
◼ Are you heading out because they genuinely need the walk… or because it feels like you should?
A quick word of caution… if you can only walk later in the day, that doesn’t always mean it’s cooler where it matters. Pavements and footpaths can hold heat for hours after the air temperature starts dropping. Earlier is nearly always the safer option if you’ve got the choice.
If in doubt, swap the walk for something calmer at home. We’ve got loads of enrichment ideas on the site if you need inspiration, and honestly, missing one walk is not going to ruin your dog. Overheating them because we thought “it’ll probably be fine” is a very different story.
This is another one worth saving, because our weather has a habit of catching us all off guard.
Post 2 of 5 done.
Next up… what to do if you suspect your dog is overheating ☀️
